ARGENTINA – Mariela Fuchs. Since ending its three-decade drought in 2017, the Land of Tango managed to place at least once more – in the previous edition, to be exact and courtesy of Amira Hidalgo. This educator is a solid follow-up, but might struggle to pull a back-to-back.

BELIZE – Elise-Gayonne Vernon. For a beekeeper, she, ironically, hasn’t earned much buzz. Expect her to salvage interview points, though, as she’s bright and bubbly.

BOLIVIA – Fernanda Rivero. Had this been a smaller pageant, this international trade graduate would have made serious inroads. Here, her best bet would be to pull a shock placement.

BRAZIL – Leticía Frota. It’s been five decades since this powerhouse won any of the original Big Three. That’s not expected to change yet, but this Top Model finalist stands a fair chance to place. Her environmental platform qualified her for the Head to Head Challenge and is now up for Beauty with a Purpose as well.

CANADA – Jaime Vandenberg. Anyone who remembers her pullout from Miss Earth 2018 will take comfort seeing her shine here. While not an early frontrunner, she placed in both the Sports and Top Model Fast Tracks, with a fair chance at acing interview.

CAYMAN ISLANDS – Leanni Tibbets. It’s curious that her introduction in the opening ceremony was done in voiceover, while everyone else spoke live. She’s a cute contender who also happens to be a pilot, but others are expected to soar.

CHILE – Ámbar Zenteno. Perhaps being the early bird of the bunch contributed to this engineer’s prospects as she finished second in the Sports Fast Track. Much as other Latinas are enjoying the hype, she might conceivably steal a slot.

COLOMBIA – Camila Pinzón. For a country known to have one of the most zealous pageant fans, it’s disconcerting how it hasn’t won this one yet. This foreign language graduate can strongly rally for that milestone, but she faces steep competition.

COSTA RICA – Krisly Salas. It took 50 years for this country to end its Miss Universe drought in 2004, while its dry spell here is now pushing 40. Much as this nutrition student is a worthy contender, the status quo is expected to remain.

CURAÇAO – Nashaira Balentein. This entrepreneur joined Miss Universe 2017, where she memorably donned a wedding cake-inspired national costume. Seven years later, she returns to the arena with more fighting form, though she stands to replicate her previous outcome.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Maria Victoria Bayo. It’s curious that she didn’t advance in the Sports Fast Track, given that she advocates for education through sports. Whatever the case, she still deserves to have a fair shot, as she qualified for Top Model.

ECUADOR – Annie Zámbrano. Her predecessor, Amar Pacheco, made the Top 40 despite minimal buzz so there’s no reason we should undermine this English teacher’s chances. Though some may argue, the competition’s steeper this time.  

EL SALVADOR – Andrea Aguilar. This Central American country had quite an eventful pageant year, with a Miss Supranational placement and a Miss Universe drought-ender in home turf. In this tilt, however, it stands to experience the usual result. Though this Pasadena-based student has charm to spare.  

GUADELOUPE – Marie Hatchi. This childcare assistant placed in the Sports Fast Track and, in the process, even outdid the more seasoned Guadeloupean representing France. Safe to say, her prospects may be brighter than we think.   

GUATEMALA – Marcela Miranda. This country had to wait until 2011 to finally score a breakthrough, thanks to Lourdes Figueroa. That record is not yet expected to be surpassed, but this international trade student has been earning notice. She was shortlisted in the Sports and Talent Fast Tracks.

GUYANA – Andrea King. This country’s best pageant placements were through this pageant and three placements in a decade is nothing at all to scoff at. So, much as this financial literacy advocate hasn’t made much waves, her credentials might boost her chances.

HAITI – Valiere Alcide. This Miss Grand International 2018 alumna returns to the pageant arena with completely shaven look. The makeover does serve her well and her passion is evident. File her under underrated.

HONDURAS – Yelsin Almendarez. This entrepreneur is a notch above most Hondurans seen in this contest but hasn’t earned enough buzz for a breakthrough.

JAMAICA – Shanique Singh. Her island’s always been the darling among the Caribbeans, as far as this pageant is concerned. The fact she shares her surname with the 2019 titleholder could also bode well. Even if she hasn’t figured in the Fast Tracks, it would be safe not to count her out.

MARTINIQUE – Axelle René. This Earth Sciences graduate was 3^rd Runner-Up in Miss France 2023, but might struggle to attain the same placement here. Whatever the case, she’s already a Top 40 lock, thanks to her Top Model victory.

MEXICO – Alejandra Diaz. Sure, this country recently acquired half of the other pageant’s shares, but it’s basking in better fortunes here. Since 2017, the country managed to place consecutively, a streak that included one winner and a runner-up (we know what happened to that one). Lack of Fast Track placements aside, this entrepreneur can still put up a fight.

NICARAGUA – Mariela Cerros. Obviously, her predecessor’s a tough act to follow on many counts. Not only did Sheynnis Palacios end this country’s two-decade placement drought in this pageant, she also went on to achieve the once-unthinkable: to win the Miss Universe crown. This entrepreneur might not follow that lead, but she’s not without merit. She placed in the Sports Fast Track.

PANAMA – Kathleen Pérez. This respiratory therapist advanced in the Sports Fast Track and could use more attention than she’s getting. She’s a worthy looker, who calls to mind Gloria Estefan‘s Miami Sound Machine era.

PARAGUAY – Dahiana Benítez. This stunner hasn’t figured in any Fast Track as of this writing, so she might struggle to replicate her predecessor’s feat. She’s another underrated contender.

PERU – Lucía Arellano. Perhaps changing delegates was an auspicious move as this entrepreneur placed in Top Model and finished third in Sports. And giving how the country will soon celebrate the 20^th anniversary of its second victory, it may be due a resurgence.

PUERTO RICO – Elena Rivera. The anomalies that marred the previous edition now seem to be water under the bridge – Stephanie del Valle’s attendance already hints as much. Plus, this marketing student had a strong start with both her Head to Head Challenge and Talent placements. It’s safe to say that her prospects look favorable.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO – Aché Abrahams. In the years (again, years) leading to this contest, this mental health advocate was pegged as the one to beat, or at the minimum, her country’s strongest bet in over a quarter-century. Those sentiments aren’t entirely unanimous, but she substantiates the hype thus far, with her Head to Head, Talent and Beauty with a Purpose placements. At most, she can probably equal Gabrielle Walcott’s achievement in Miss World 2008. With luck, she may even surpass it.

UNITED STATES – Victoria DiSorbo. State-hopping can prove auspicious from time to time. Take the case of this book author, who was Miss Florida Teen USA 2017, but earned the right to compete here under the Tennessee sash. She’s not a heavy crown favorite, but she still has a fair shot, thanks in part to her Head to Head Challenge placement. She was also America’s continental winner for Best Designer Dress.  

URUGUAY – Tatiana Luna. This country hasn’t really figured much since its Y2K, so this law student can at least relish her Sports Fast Track placement.

VENEZUELA – Ariagny Daboín. Since winning its sixth crown in 2011, this powerhouse spent five years “out in the cold” and, even after ending that drought, it hasn’t made it past the first cut. Much as the struggle’s expected to continue, this clinical psychologist deserves to advance.